When it comes to nightlife, no neighborhood in NYC can rival the East Village for a choice of places to whet your whistle. This part of Lower Manhattan also gets high marks for artistic pedigree. Though nostalgists might pine for the area's punk-rockin' heyday of the '70s and '80s, walking your dog at 3 a.m. in Alphabet City no longer requires considerable courage. (Or a big dog.)

When it comes to nightlife, no neighborhood in NYC can rival the East Village for a choice of places to whet your whistle. This part of Lower Manhattan also gets high marks for artistic pedigree. Though nostalgists might pine for the area's punk-rockin' heyday of the '70s and '80s, walking your dog at 3 a.m. in Alphabet City no longer requires considerable courage. (Or a big dog.)